Kupchak not concerned about Howard-D'Antoni relationship

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a phone interview that Dwight Howard did not express any frustrations about Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni in a private exit meeting, contrary to a published report.

"There was no discussion of the coach whatsoever," Kupchak said Tuesday night.

Howard and Kupchak spoke privately, same as with several other Lakers veterans, after finishing their standard meeting with D'Antoni on April 30. But Kupchak said there was no talk of D'Antoni once he left the room -- and Kupchak said he didn't want it to come up given his insistence that the Lakers won't have any player dictate the coaching situation anyway.

"To be honest with you, I wouldn’t let it go there anyway," he said.

Kupchak expects Howard and D'Antoni "absolutely" to have a strong coach-star bond if Howard re-signs with the Lakers. Kupchak did not specify whether he and Howard have had any other discussions about D'Antoni, but Kupchak was clear that he isn't worried about the prospect of D'Antoni driving Howard away from the Lakers, especially after D'Antoni adapted late in the season to play a style that produced more victories.

Said Kupchak: "I'm not saying they don't have differences like with any coach or any player. I don't think it's anything that goes beyond."

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